January 28, 2025
Lake-Sumter State College Rallies for Thrilling 5-4 Extra-Inning Win Over Tallahassee State
By Kyle Coppola
Lake-Sumter State College Rallies for Thrilling 5-4 Extra-Inning Win Over Tallahassee State
LEESBURG, Fla.— The Lake-Sumter State College Lakehawks showcased resilience and late-game heroics to secure a dramatic 5-4 extra-inning victory over Tallahassee State College on Monday night, extending their win streak to three games and improving to 3-1 on the season. Strong pitching by Chase Booth early in the game saw the Lakehawks keep it close. In 3.2 innings Booth had 5 strikeouts and gave up only 1 earned run. Even while surrendering 6 walks the Lakehawks were able to limit any kind of damage early in the game.
However Tallahasee State took the lead late in the game with Eric Fernandez hitting a home run to right field in the seventh inning, putting Tallahassee ahead 2-1.
(Osjun Rivas is pumped up after tying the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Photo Credit – LSSC Athletics.)
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Lakehawks kept their hopes alive as Osjun Rivas delivered a clutch single to right field, driving in Colby White and advancing Edwin Melendez to second. Tallahassee’s pitching staff held strong, limiting further damage and sending the game into extra innings.
The Eagles regained the upper hand in the top of the 10th. Bryce Hooker scored on a fielding error, and Braydon Tindell crossed the plate on Andrew Duncan’s sacrifice bunt, giving Tallahassee a 4-2 lead.
Despite the setback, the Lakehawks roared back in the bottom of the 10th. Mason Blackburn sparked the rally with a double down the left field line, scoring Matthew Dumas and Camden Williamson to tie the game. With the bases loaded, Tanner Reid displayed patience at the plate, drawing a walk-off walk that brought Blackburn home and sealed the 5-4 victory.
(Mason Blackburn comes across the plate to win the game for the Lakehawks. Photo Credit – Lake-Sumter State College Athletics.)
The Lakehawks will look to carry their momentum into their next game against Polk State College on Wednesday at 5pm.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
